Agenda item

To outline the five year Capital Strategy for 2015/16 to 2019/20, including the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) statement and the Asset Management Plans for property and highways, and to set out the funding framework for Council’s five year Capital Programme for 2015/16 to 2019/20.

(All Members had been granted a dispensation to speak and vote on Agenda Item 16)

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 16) concerning the five year Capital Strategy for 2015/16 to 2019/20, including the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) statement and the Asset Management Plans for property and highways, and set out the funding framework for the Council’s five year Capital Programme for 2015/16 to 2019/20.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Alan Law and seconded by Councillor Gordon Lundie:

That the Council:

“approve the Capital Strategy and Programme 2015/16 to 2019/20”.

Councillor Alan Law stated that the proposed Capital Programme helped deliver the key priorities set out in the Council Strategy 2014-2018, including investment over the next five years in the following key areas:

·         Protecting the Vulnerable: £10.1 million for assets to support the care of older people and people with physical, sensory or learning disabilities and looked after children;

·         Promoting a Vibrant District: £44.0 million for maintenance and improvement of highways; £2.5 million for maintenance and improvement of parks, open spaces sporting and cultural facilities; and £1.7 million to facilitate the delivery of superfast broadband across the majority of West Berkshire;

·         Improving Education: £65.1 million for new school places and improvement of school buildings.

Councillor Alan Macro stated that although he was pleased to see that £7m of funding had been set aside for Theale primary School he was disappointed that the project was not sue to be completed until 2017. Councillor Tony Linden welcomed the investment of £2.9m set aside for A4 improvements.

Councillor Roger Croft welcomed the expenditure on Superfast Broadband which represented an investment in the future of the District and would also support the rural economy. Under this project 15,000 additional premises would have access to fast broadband by September 2015 as part of this scheme. Phase 2 of the scheme would be rolled out in the Summer. Phase 2 would result in 95% of the premises in the District having access to fast broadband and 100% of premises would have access to faster connections.

Councillor Hilary Cole welcomed the investment in libraries, parks, leisure centres, public rights of way, recreation grounds etc which all helped to contribute towards the wellbeing of residents.

Councillor Irene Neill welcomed the investment in the district’s schools including a new school for Newbury and the investment in Theale Primary. Provision had also been made for new sixth forms at Little Heath and Denefield Schools and an extension to the sixth form block at Brookfield School. Funding was also included for the refurbishment of classrooms at Lambourn Primary and temporary classroom would be replaced at Kennet Valley School.

Councillor Garth Simpson noted that £43m had been set aside for improving the district’s roads and bridges and for flood alleviation schemes in Tull Way and Dunstan Park and nine schemes in the Downlands.

Councillor Tony Vickers noted that on page 70 (paragraph 3.5) of the agenda reference was made to the sale of The Starting Gate Pub. He queried why this sale had not been raised during the long running discussions on Kersey Crescent. He was also concerned about the future use of the sports fields at Trinity School as they were outside the settlement boundary. Councillor Paul Bryant explained that the sports fields were part of the deal agreed as part of the refurbishment of Shaw House and that planning permission had already been sought in respect of this scheme. Councillor Vickers was supportive of the disposal of the land adjacent to the Phoenix Centre.

Councillor Gordon Lundie reported that he was delighted to support the Strategy and Programme. He especially welcomed the investment in superfast broadband which would help to grow business and therefore bring additional employment to the district. He was pleased to report that the refurbishment of the Museum had been completed on time and within budget. The Programme would also result in investment of £13.8m in education and the Council would continue to invest in libraries, children centres, roads and waste management.

Councillor Alan Law noted that Councillor Vickers supported the disposal of the land adjacent to the Phoenix Centre. He explained that the Council had not been able to sell the Starting Gate Pub previously due to the existence of a long term lease with Punch Taverns. Councillor Law was happy to propose the Strategy and Programme which would improve the infrastructure and provide benefits for the residents and taxpayers of the district.

Prior to the vote being taken the Monitoring Officer announced that the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/165) (2014 Regulations) came into came into effect on the 25 February 2014 and as a consequence the Council was required to record the names of Members voting for and against the budget proposals.

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

FOR the Motion

Councillors Peter Argyle, Howard Bairstow, Jeff Beck, Brian Bedwell, Dominic Boeck, Paul Bryant, , George Chandler, Keith Chopping, Hilary Cole, Roger Croft, Richard Crumly,  Adrian Edwards, Sheila Ellison, Marcus Franks, Manohar Gopal, Paul Hewer, John Horton, Carol Jackson-Doerge, Mike Johnston, Graham Jones, Rick Jones,  Alan Law, Tony Linden, Gordon Lundie, Tim Metcalfe, Irene Neill, Graham Pask, James Podger, Andrew Rowles, Garth Simpson, Anthony Stansfeld, Ieuan Tuck, Virginia von Celsing, Quentin Webb, Emma Webster, Laszlo Zverko (36)

AGAINST the Motion

None

ABSTAINED:

Jeff Brooks, Billy Drummond, Roger Hunneman, Mollie Lock, Royce Longton, Alan Macro, Gwen Mason, Geoff Mayes,  David Rendel, Julian Swift-Hook, Tony Vickers, Keith Woodhams (12)